World Wetlands Day is February 2nd

by Bob Montgomery

Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority Wetlands Specialist Angela Van Niekerk says wetlands provide a lot of unique opportunities for people to enjoy recreational things like bird watching, canoeing and discovering nature with their children.

Van Niekerk says that's just the recreational value of wetlands. Since 2008, the Ausable Bayfield Conservation has helped 245 local landowners create 131 wetlands, totaling almost 1,000 acres. “The big reason we value wetlands is for the water quality aspect, the filtering that it does and also the water storage it provides that reduces erosion and flooding down stream.”

Van Niekerk says wetland areas are still being lost to developments but she believes more people are realizing the value of wetlands and are working to preserve them. She adds that they are able to restore areas that once were wetlands. “We work in areas that are kind of wet and look like they were wetter in the past and just with influences around the landscape, they've dried up so they can use that and the soil, if it's clay soil, and restore the wetland.”

Wetland projects have been possible with low or no costs to the landowners thanks to the support of funding partners. ABCA staff make it easy for landowners to do projects with little or no paperwork. The conservation authority provides local wetland expertise and facilitates the funding for landowners to support their projects. ABCA encourages local landowners to contact staff for all their wetland project questions and needs. 

Van Niekerk invites anyone who thinks a wetland might enhance their property to call Ausable Bayfield Conservation for a site visit and see about funding for their project.

photo courtesy of ABCA